NO WOMAN'S LAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1938, Page 10

NO WOMAN'S LAND

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

COPYRIGHT

BY

JANE ENGLAND

CHAPTER XXlX.—Continued.

“Nonsense,” said David. “It does happen sometimes,” she said flippantly. “But darling ” His face crinkled into laughter. “It is, as you say, too novelette-ish.” Her face flickered, and he took her by both elbows. “Darling,” he said, “I never thought that you could be so divinely ordinary!” “In a moment,” said Dolly, “I’m going to howl like a dog. You hate the idea, don’t you?” “No, I don’t. I’m mad about it. I’m mad about you and Bloots. An heir to Bloots, Dolly. Laugh that off. And I’m crazy with happiness about it.” Suddenly, he picked her up and kissed her. Wentworth walked his horse down the silent, moonlit street of Klinter’s Dorp. He could see a light twinkling in the police camp on the rise; and as he passed the store, he saw a dim pencil of light showing under the door. He heard Brown’s horse whinny as it heard his own coming home, and saw a dark figure blot out the square of orange light in the open door of the mess hut. “Brown,” he thought, and remembered that young Fingall was on patrol.' He dismounted outside the mess hut, and a Black Watch came from the inky shadows and took his horse. “Water him,” said Wentworth, in a dull, tired voice “and saddle two fresh horses. Brown said nothing, but stepped back into the mess hut and poured out a stiff whisky. “Have you got that warrant?” said Wentworth. “Yes. It came about six o’clock,” said Brown. “We’ll do it now,” said Wentworth. “Now?” “Yes, now. Avoid spectators.” “Did you get that car from Salisbury?” he asked Brown sharply. “It’s behind here, with a driver,” said Brown. “Then we’ll take the car, and he can be taken straight into Salisbury.” Brown grunted and went out to give the orders. When he came back Wentworth was pushing the warrant into his pocket, and slipping back the catch of his revolver. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get it over.” The car purred up to the mess hut. Wentworth muttered. A car was simplest, but his whole being ached for the sound of jingling bit and bridle, the creak of a saddle, and the smell of leather. “Come on,” he said again, and got into the car. Brown stood on the running board,' and two Black Watch got into the back. The driver let in the clutch, and the car slipped softly down the rise towards the small township. “Turn round to the side/of the store,” said Wentworth. # # « * Brown got off the running board and went round to the back. The two Black Watch went to each side of the house, and stood there waiting. Wentworth went to the front door and knocked. There was complete silence. No one answered. “Brown,” said Wentworth, in a voice' that was not loud but which carried “Keep the back covered. I’m going to break down the front.” He beckoned to a Black Watch, who came forward, unhitching a small hatchet from his belt as he did so. , “Ready?” called Wentworth, and he put his shoulder against the door, while the Black Watch hacked at the hinges. There was no sign from within the store, and Wentworth had a cold sensation in the pit 'of his stomach. There was probably a man in there with his gun trained on the door. The door crashed open with a splintering sound, and Wentworth half fell into the store. There were two candles in tall brass holders on the counter. They spread a pool of lemon-coloured light on to the greasy wood. Between them stood Hudson. His mouth was stretched into a grin. And the yellow candlelight glinted on the dull polish of his revolver barrel. “Keep still,’ said Hudson in a creaky voice. Wentworth kept still. “And you too,” said Hudson to the Black Watch boy, “you keep still too.” Wentworth did not move. The Black Watch boy was behind him. He didn’t know if the boy could move or not. “Clever, aren’t you?” said Hudson. “Got me proper, didn’t you, you and that blabbing canary-head at Howards? Well, you’ve got me, and I know Brown is out at the back, and he’ll get in sooner or later. But when he does, then you pop out, see? Just before he gets me, I’ll get you, see?” “I see,” said Wentworth. And a muscle twitched in his cheek.

“I’ve got a pail of petrol, just here under the counter,” said Hudson, “and when one of’these candles goes into it . . . after I’ve shot you .... we’ll have another fire, see? A grand fire. Maybe that little nark Brown will be caught in it. That’s whafs going to happen. And don’t run away with the idea that that little nark of yours can get in without me hearing. I’ve been waiting, for you, even since you came down the street with that corpse rolled up in blankets. Silly little man! Thought he could hold me up, did he? Well, he couldn’t, but I might have known that the headman couldn’t be trusted. I thought that if he knew I was round he’d be too scared to open his mouth.” “You made a mistake, Hudson,” said Wentworth grimly, “when you left the Service. He was more afraid of the police than he was of you. He was afraid of you in the beginning because

(Author of “Sjambok,” “Trader’s Lie ense,” &c.)

you were in the Police.” “Well, it doesn’t matter,” said Hudson, “because I am finished, and so are you. I’ve fixed up an alarm on the back door, so I can’t be taken in the rear. Soon as I hear the alarm go, I shoot you, and chuck the candle into the petrol. I’ll just have time to shoot myself after. See?” Wentworth said nothing. Thoughts spun round in his head. Hudson had evidently got a form of hysteria. He was going to talk . . . he’d got to talk. He’d go on talking, getting it all out of his system until he heard the damned alarm ring. The doorway behind was obviously a bright square of moonlight. Nobody could get into the store from there without Hudson seeing them. The first person he saw, and he’d shoot him, Wentworth, down. “All I wanted to do,” said Hudson, “was to settle down. 1 1 didn’t do any harm in killing that old fool, that drunken swine ...”

“What about Old Jack?” interrupted Wentworth.

“Well, I had to do that, hadn’t I?” said Hudson querulously. “The old fool had to butt in.” From somewhere outside came an incredible howl, and a frantic voice screaming.

Hudson started, and for a second his eyes left Wentworth. Wentworth jumped forward, and Hudson swung round. His gun went off, and his arm jerked. One of the candlesticks rolled off the counter, and a roar and a blinding flame shot up to the roof. Wentworth staggered back, one hand covering his eyes. A black hand caught at his wrist, and jerked him out of the store. Brown came running round from the back.

“Did my banshee howl work?” he yelled, and stopped dead as he saw the black clouds billowing out of the store.

The black smoke poured out, shot with livid tongues of flame that forked up the roof. A serie? of explosions started as the drums of paraffin burst; and then the smoke grew thicker. Thick and oily and damnably hot; they poured out of the store.

People in Klinter’s Dorp ran out of their houses. They did not stop to stare, but started in. at once to fight the fire;

“It’s got to be stopped spreading,” grunted Brown, and he worked like a lunatic, his face streaked with soot, his eyes shining brilliantly out of a smeared mask of a face.

“Some funeral pyre,” he muttered, and got on with the job in hand. The glare was copper against the moonlit sky; but after a time the glare died down, and the cold moon regained her sovereignty. The store crumbled like a pack of cards into a heap of oily and smoking ruins. . “It’s the best way,” .paid Brown throatily, as he stood by Wentworth’s side, and looked at the smouldering ruins. ’

“Maybe,” said Wentworth sourly. “But he’s cheated justice the Law,, anyway. And nowadays in this country, the Law gets peevish when it’s cheated.” “Oh, well,” said Brown philosophically. Wentworth grunted wearily. “Set a guard,” he said. “I’m going to try and get some sleep.” (To be Continued).